Kenyan airlines feel the heat as new carrier launches flights along popular route

david nganga

July 21, 2017 12:25 PM

Britex Air services set to step up competition to carriers such as JamboJet and Fly540 that operate on the Nairobi-Kisumu route

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Jambojet, Kenya Airways and Fly540 are set to feel the heat with the launch of start-up airline Britex Air Services.

The airline, which launched its maiden flight on Thursday, will operate between the Kisumu-Nairobi routes, a route common with the above carriers.

Britex Managing Director has partnered with Reliance Air Charters that will provide crew to the two planes and service them.

“Our target market is the businesspeople who want to fly to Kisumu or to Nairobi for the day, do business, and still have ample time to catch the return flight home,” he told Business Daily.

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The airline will operate two return flights per day using two 30-seater Embraer 120 recently acquired from Brazil.

“To begin with, we shall have two return flights which leave our Wilson Airport base at 6.45am and 6pm and return to Nairobi shortly after landing. When demand picks, we shall increase our frequencies,” said Mr. Opiyo, who once served as manager of the defunct Jetink Express.

The airlines' online booking portals shows that a one-way Britex ticket from Nairobi to Kisumu on July 30 will cost a minimum of Sh5,200, inclusive of taxes.

A similar trip on Kenya Airways, Jambojet (its low-cost subsidiary) and Fly540 is going for Sh7, 635, Sh4,200 and Sh6,770 respectively — making ticket prices a potential point of rivalry.

david nganga